36 TALAS 160

Installing Your Fork | Before You Ride | Setting Sag | Adjusting Rebound | Locking Out the Fork | Adjusting Lockout Force | Adjusting Low-Speed Compression | Adjusting TALAS Travel | Service Intervals | Important Safety Information

NOTE:  This fork is designed to use the downhill brake system only. The disc brake caliper mounts directly to the fork leg and is positioned specifically for the use of 200-225 mm rotors.

Installing Your Fork

Be sure your fork is properly installed before proceeding. If your fork came pre-installed on your bicycle, continue to the next section.

Before You Ride

1. Check that your 20 mm axle pinch bolts and crown pinch bolts are properly adjusted and tightened.
2. Clean the outside of your fork with only mild soap and water, and wipe dry with a soft dry rag.

   NOTE:  Do not use any solvents or de-greasers, as these products can cause serious damage to paint and anodized parts (upper tubes, knobs, steerers).

   Do not spray water directly on the seal/upper tube junction. Do not use a high pressure washer on your fork.

3. Inspect the entire exterior of your fork. The fork should not be used if any of the exterior parts appear to be damaged. Contact your local dealer or FOX Racing Shox for further inspection and repair.
4. Check your headset adjustment. If loose, adjust it accordingly to your bicycle manufacturer's recommendations.
5. Check that all brake cables or hoses are properly fastened.
6. Test the proper operation of your front and rear brakes on level ground.

Setting Sag

You can also view a Flash video on Setting Sag.

To get the best performance from your fork, it is necessary to set and adjust sag. Generally, sag should be set to 15 – 25% of total fork travel.

1. Unscrew the center blue aircap in the middle of the TALAS travel adjusting topcap on top of the left fork leg (shown below), to expose the Schrader valve.

   TIP: Hold the TALAS lever steady with one hand while unscrewing the aircap with the other.

   

2. Set the TALAS lever to the long travel position, turn off lockout and cycle the fork a few times.

   NOTE:  For the best TALAS performance, always set sag in the long travel position. Sag and spring rate will automatically readjust when you change to different travel settings.

3. Attach a FOX Racing Shox High Pressure Pump to the Schrader valve.
4. Pump your fork to the appropriate setting from the Suggested Air Spring Pressure Settings table below, then remove the pump.
5. Unless your fork already has a sag setting o-ring on an upper tube, install a zip tie to an upper tube. Slide the o-ring or the zip tie down against the scraper lip of the fork dust seal.
6. Be sure your fork lockout is still turned off.
7. Dressed to ride, position your bike next to a wall or table to support yourself. Without bouncing, mount your bicycle. Assume a normal riding position for at least 30 seconds, allowing the suspension to fully settle.
8. Dismount your bike without bouncing downward, without further moving the o-ring or zip tie. Measure the distance between the seal and the zip tie. This measurement is your sag value.
9. Compare your actual sag value to your target sag value in the Sag Setup table below.
   
   If your sag measurement value is less than the Sag Setup table value, screw on the pump fitting, note the current air pressure setting and depress the black bleed-valve to reduce the gauge pressure by 5 psi. Measure sag again and repeat this adjustment, if necessary.
   
   If your sag measurement value is greater than the Sag Setup table value, screw on the pump fitting, note the current air pressure setting and pump to increase the gauge pressure by 5 psi. Measure sag again and repeat this adjustment if necessary.
10. Screw the blue aircap back on, and go ride.
    
    

    Rider Weight lbs.	Suggested Air Spring Pressure Settings PSI
    	160 mm
    ≤125	45
    125 - 135	48
    135 - 145	50
    145 - 155	53
    155 - 170	55
    170 - 185	65
    185 - 200	75
    200 - 215	85
    215 - 230	95
    230 - ≥250	105

    
    

    Sag Setup
    Travel	XC/Race FIRM	Freeride PLUSH
    160 mm (6.3")	24 mm (0.95")	40 mm (1.57")

    
    

    Sag Troubleshooting
    Symptom	Remedy
    Too much sag	(+) air pressure in 5 psi increments
    Too little sag	(-) air pressure in 5 psi increments
    Excessive bottoming	(+) air pressure in 5 psi increments
    Harsh ride; full travel not utilized	(-) air pressure in 5 psi increments

Adjusting Rebound

The rebound knob is located on the top of the right fork leg, and has 15 clicks of adjustment. Rebound controls the speed at which the fork extends after compressing. Turning the knob clockwise slows down rebound; turning the knob counter-clockwise speeds up rebound. As a starting point, turn the rebound adjuster knob all the way clockwise (full in) until it stops, then turn counter-clockwise (out) 8 clicks.

Locking Out the Fork

The blue compression lockout lever, located just below the black lockout force adjuster knob, allows you to close the compression damping circuit in the fork. This keeps the fork at the top of its travel, making it harder to compress.

NOTE:  When you adjust the compression lockout lever, the black lockout force adjuster knob will also move. This is normal; the lockout force adjustment setting will not be affected.

Rotate the lever fully clockwise to lockout the fork. This position is useful in climbing and sprinting situations, but will sag with the rider’s weight. The fork will "blowoff" in the event that a big hit is encountered with the fork locked out.

To unlock the fork, simply rotate the lever fully counter-clockwise.

NOTE:  The fork may cycle a couple of times after enabling lockout. Once complete lockout is achieved, the fork may continue to move 3 - 5 mm. This is normal and does not affect performance.

Adjusting Lockout Force

Even when your fork is fully locked out, there are instances when you still want your fork suspension to be active. To protect your fork's internal parts, your FOX fork will "blowoff" when it encounters an intense hit. You can adjust when the fork blows off—lockout force—by adjusting the black knob on the right-side top cap.

A convenient tuning feature of the lockout force knob is that it allows you to leave your fork in the locked out position—no more fiddling with fork controls when the trail requires your undivided attention. Although you might need to adjust the knob a few times to find the sweet spot, once it is found you can simply leave your fork locked out. Your fork will then respond to hits in the trail for example, but will be locked out when you are out of your saddle on a climb.

Turn the knob clockwise to increase lockout force and counter-clockwise to decrease lockout force.

NOTE:  When you adjust the black lockout force adjuster knob, hold the blue compression lockout lever in place.

There are 10 clicks of adjustment. As a starting point, turn the knob all the way clockwise until it stops, then back off one click counter-clockwise.

Adjusting Low-Speed Compression

Low-speed compression damping is adjusted with the blue bezel ring that is positioned just below the blue lockout lever. This ring has 8 clicks of adjustment range. Compression damping controls the fork compression speed. Adjust the low-speed compression with lockout off (the lockout lever turned fully counter-clockwise). The factory setting is 8 clicks out counter-clockwise, from fully in clockwise.

Adjusting TALAS Travel

36 TALAS forks feature two externally adjustable travel choices, which are easily selected with the TALAS travel adjusting topcap located on top of the left fork leg. Travel and direction options are printed directly on the topcap.

NOTE:  When changing travel, the TALAS system automatically adjusts to provide you with the appropriate linear air spring rate for each travel setting. There is no need to change the air pressure in the TALAS air chamber after adjusting travel.

CAUTION:  For safety reasons, adjust TALAS travel only when you're not riding the bike.

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FOX Factory Inc.